The Oke-Afa Bridge closure will begin on Friday, August 28, as the Lagos State Government starts a three-week rehabilitation programme on the major Isolo-Ejigbo route. The temporary traffic restriction will run until September 18, 2026, with authorities introducing a phased diversion plan to keep vehicles moving while repair work takes place.
The intervention will not shut both directions simultaneously. Instead, Lagos will work on one carriageway at a time and redirect traffic onto the opposite carriageway, allowing motorists to continue using the corridor during the project.
The state government said the arrangement is designed to limit disruption around the busy Isolo axis, where the bridge provides an important connection between Isolo and Ejigbo.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will also deploy personnel to manage traffic and respond to bottlenecks throughout the rehabilitation period.
The rehabilitation has been divided into two stages, with each phase targeting traffic travelling in a different direction.
The first stage will affect motorists travelling from Isolo towards Ejigbo.
Under the arrangement:
- Traffic leaving Isolo for Ejigbo will be diverted at Pako Roundabout onto the Isolo-bound carriageway.
- The diverted section will operate with traffic moving in both directions.
- Vehicles will reconnect with the main carriageway around Mobil Filling Station.
- Motorists travelling from Ejigbo will continue through the corridor while sharing the available carriageway with Ejigbo-bound traffic.
- After Pako Roundabout, motorists will regain access to the normal road alignment.
The first phase is scheduled to last 15 days, meaning commuters using the Isolo-to-Ejigbo route should expect altered traffic patterns during the period.
The second stage will run from September 12 to September 18 and will switch attention to vehicles travelling from Ejigbo towards Isolo.
During this phase, motorists heading towards Isolo will be redirected from Mobil Filling Station onto the Ejigbo-bound carriageway. Traffic will again operate in both directions along the affected section before reconnecting with the main carriageway at Pako Roundabout.
Drivers travelling from Isolo will retain access through the route but will share part of the carriageway with traffic heading in the opposite direction.
This second phase is shorter, lasting seven days, after which the government expects normal movement to resume once the rehabilitation programme is completed.
The phased approach means motorists should pay particular attention to the direction of travel and the date of their journey, as the diversion pattern will change midway through the project.
The Lagos Government has prepared additional traffic-control measures to reduce the risk of prolonged congestion during the Oke-Afa Bridge repairs.
Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi said LASTMA officials would be positioned around the affected corridor to coordinate vehicle movement and respond to emerging congestion.
An emergency tow vehicle will also remain within the area throughout the works. Its role will be to quickly remove vehicles that break down and could otherwise obstruct the already restricted carriageway.
The presence of recovery equipment is particularly significant because a breakdown on a section where traffic is operating in both directions could quickly create a bottleneck.
The government has consequently appealed to motorists to cooperate with traffic officers and exercise patience while the rehabilitation continues.
The temporary restriction is likely to require commuters who regularly use the Isolo-Ejigbo corridor to allow additional travel time, particularly during peak periods.
Motorists should also expect changes in lane configuration as traffic is transferred between carriageways.
The key dates are:
- August 28: Oke-Afa Bridge rehabilitation begins.
- August 28–September 11: Isolo-to-Ejigbo traffic affected.
- September 12–18: Ejigbo-to-Isolo traffic affected.
- September 18: Scheduled end of the three-week intervention.
Rather than treating the closure as a complete shutdown of the bridge, motorists should understand it as a controlled, phased restriction designed to preserve vehicular movement while work proceeds.
The Oke-Afa corridor is an important transport route within the Isolo area, linking communities and commercial locations around the Isolo-Ejigbo axis.
Keeping the route operational during repairs presents a traffic-management challenge because reducing available carriageway space can increase delays, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
The government’s decision to carry out the work in phases reflects an attempt to balance two competing priorities: completing necessary infrastructure repairs and maintaining movement for residents and businesses that depend on the route.
For commuters, the effectiveness of the plan will ultimately depend on how well traffic officers enforce the temporary arrangement, how quickly breakdowns are cleared and whether motorists follow the designated diversion pattern.
The state government has asked road users to cooperate with traffic officials and remain patient throughout the rehabilitation period. It said the partial closure is part of a wider traffic-management arrangement intended to facilitate the bridge repairs while keeping the corridor functional.
The immediate priority will be completing the repairs without allowing the diversion to become a prolonged source of congestion.
Motorists using the Oke-Afa, Isolo and Ejigbo corridors should therefore plan journeys around the changing phases, follow directions from LASTMA personnel and avoid obstructing the temporary traffic lanes.
If the work proceeds according to schedule, the diversion should end on September 18, allowing traffic to return to the normal road configuration.
